Yeddyurappa blames Centre for farmer suicides

Shimoga, Jun 20: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today blamed on the Congress party-led UPA government as responsible for this week's farmer suicides in the state due to non-availability of sufficient chemical fertilisers. Participating the interaction programme organised by Shimoga Working Journalist Association here he said during the President's rule the administration had failed to take correct decisions and ensure enough stocks of fertiliser before the onset of the South-West monsoon.

"Congress party leaders should have looked into the matter because of the fact that Presidential rule was imposed in the state by Congress led UPA government at the centre," he claimed. The Chief Minister said he had appraised the matter over the shortage of fertilisers to the Prime Minister Manamohan Singh and Union Chemical and Fertiliser Minister Ram Vilas Paswan recently.

Unfortunately the assurance of sending 1.4 lakh mt of chemical fertiliser to the state before June 20 did not happen. Only 40 per cent of the assured was received. He demanded the Center to release the remaining stock immediately.

Mr Yedurappa advised the opposition parties in the state to give up playing 'politics' in the developmental activities of the state. The BJP government would shortly take an all party delegation to Delhi to discuss various issues concerning the state. With regard to the supply of news print papers to the small and medium newspapers in the state he assured that he will discuss the matter with Finance department and Mysore Paper Mills Ltd.

He said that he was not giving importance only to the development of Bangalore city but the whole state.

BJP government was giving special attention to establish Food Parks' in the state and give prominence to organic farming and campaign to curb over use of chemical fertilisers.

He said that he will develop the Shimoga as a model district in the state.

He assured that government would consider allocating housing sites to the journalists of both at taluk and district level at a confessional rate.

He announced an immediate release of Rs.50 lakhs for construction of 'Patrika Bhavan' in Shimoga.

UNI